Australian Shooter James Willett Takes Gold at ISSF World Cup, Penny Smith Settles for Silver in Women’s Trap Shooting Event

At the ISSF World Cup 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Australian shooter James Willett clinched the gold medal in the men’s trap shooting event, while Penny Smith settled for silver in the women’s competition. Willett, a seasoned two-time Olympian and gold medalist in the mixed trap pairs event at the 2019 World Championships, showcased his prowess by finishing fifth in the qualifiers and shooting 121 in the qualifying round to earn a spot in the finals. Despite a slow start in the medal round, Willett elevated his performance to secure the top spot on the podium with a remarkable score of 46, missing just one shot out of 30 in the final six series. This victory marked Willett’s first individual gold at the ISSF World Cup since Acapulco 2019, with Slovakia’s Filip Marinov and Guatemala’s Jean Pierre Brol Cardenas claiming the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

In contrast to Willett’s impressive performance, Penny Smith’s journey was not as smooth. The 29-year-old kickstarted her campaign by leading